Method of producing continuous metal strip and the like



0a. 3, 1961 ossu 3,002,255

M. A. GR METHOD OF PRODUCING CONTINUOUS METAL STRIP AND THE LIKE Original Filed 001;. 24. 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR Mirceo A. Grossu Oct. 3, 1961 ROSSU 3,002,255

M. A. G METHOD OF PRODUCING CONTINUOUS METAL STRIP AND THE LIKE Original Filed Oct. 24, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Mircea A.Grossu BY D Oct. 3, 1961 M. A. GROSSU METHOD OF PRODUCING commuous METAL STRIP AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed 001'.- 24, 1952 IIIII INVENTOR Mirceo A. Grossu zw mw 6 Claims. (Cl. 29-18) The present invention relates to the commercial production 01 aluminum strip and the like, and more particularly to the production of such strip by extrusion processes as opposed to rolling processes.

The present application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 316,599, filed October 24, 1952, and now abandoned.

The installation of complete rolling equipment for producing metal strip from ingots, slabs and the like is an extensive and costly matter; and, consequently, such installations are rather centralized and few in number. Because of the versatility and comparatively small size and lower cost of metal extrusion machines, the same have greatly increased in number and dispersion within recent years. Many of the owners of such machines'have use for continuous metal strip while other extrusion machine installations have excess time capacity available, so it is altogether desirable that a method be devised forthe practical production of metal strip by a more or less conventional metal extrusion machine. Accordingly, it' is a primary. object of this invention to provide a practical method for theproduction of continuous metal strip in substantial widths with the use of a conventional metal extrusion press.

In accordance with the above object, the invention provides a method whereby flat strip may be produced by first extruding metal billetsone at a time into a continuous article having a form other than the desired form, but of uniform wall thickness equal to the desired strip thickness, and by flattening such extruded form into the desired flat formsubsequent to the extension operation. In the embodiment of the invention described herein, a section of uniform thickness forming the greater arcuate portion of a circle is extruded about the periphery of a billet. This section, when subsequently flattened into strip,may be several times wider than the billet itself; yet it is extruded from wholly within the peripheral limits of the billet.

' Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a technique for operating a processing line whereby metal strip may be produced in the above stated manner in continuous coiled lengths, each of said lengths being extruded from a single billet. To this end, the invention contemplates a method for coiling previously flattened strip during the extrusion of a subsequent billet, and for tensioning the newly extruded metal during the flattening thereof into strip so that the flattening operation may be most effectively carried out.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a processing line for producing continuous aluminum strip in accordance with the method of and by means of the apparatus of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of a strip flattening device constructed in accordance with the teachres atent ings of my invention, the flattening device being of the Patented Oct. 3, 1961 2 type used in the processing line illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary section view taken generally along line VIVI of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary section view taken generally along line VV of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view illustrating a type of extruding die which is suitable for use in the processing line of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawing, and initially to- FIG- URES l and 2 thereof, the numeral 10 designates, generally, an extrusion press which may be of conventional construction comprising a die 11, billet container 12 and ram, not shown, the latter being associated in the usual manner with a high powered hydraulic cylinder, also not shown. In accordance with usual practice, the press apparatus 10 includes a run-out table 13 for supporting the extruded shape in front of the die 11 and a suitable shear 14 for cropping off the ends of an extruded length when desired.

Positioned in straddling relation to the run-out table 13, and extending from adjacent the forward end of the press 10 to a point located forwardly thereof a distance somewhat greater thanthe contemplated longest length of'strip who produced from theextrusion of a single billet of metal is a guiding track 15 comprising spaced channel members 16 supported on the principal base or foundation 17. In accordance with the teachings of the invention the track .15 is adapted to support and guide for longitudinal movement toward and away from the extrusion press a flattening device 13, to be described hereafter.

Positioned forwardly of the extreme forward end of the track 15 is a coiling device 19 which may be of conventional construction comprising, for example, a reel 23, a suitable motor 20, gear reducers 21 and 2.2, and a suitable clutch mechanism not specifically illustrated, whereby the motor 20 may 'elfect appropriate rotation of the reel 2.3'or may slip with respect to the reel 23 While maintaining a predetermined torque force thereon. Such arrangements are well known in the prior art.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a die 11 of the type preferred for carrying out the method of my invention, and it will be observed therein that a die opening 24 is provided which is generally circular in outline but which forms less than a complete circle, as for example an arc in the order of 270. Broken line 25 indicates the relation of a billet to be extruded to the die opening 24, and it will be noted that the latter is wholly within the peripheral outline of the billet. This is in accordance with preferred extrusion practice and with the teachings of the invention.

The present method of producing wide strip contemplates the initial extrusion through the die opening 24 of a section of uniform thickness and having an arcuate outline comprising, for example, a major fraction of a complete circle. The extruded shape thus formed is caused to move along the run-out table until substantially all of the billet has been consumed. At this stage of the operation the flattening device 18 is inoperative and is positioned at the extreme forward end of the track 15. But immediately upon completion of the extrusion stroke the flattening device 18 is caused to engage with the extruded shape and is moved toward the press 10*, deforming the extruded shape into the desired flat strip as it is so moved. During the time interval when the flattening device 18 is in operation the press 10 is reloaded with another billet, and upon the device 18 reaching the limit of its traverse it is again rendered inoperative and a second stroke of the extrusion press 10 is initiated, It will be understood, of course, that during the second stroke of the press 10 the second billet will be caused to fuse completely with the first whereby the extruded length will be continuous and wholly unaffected by the discontinuity of thebillet's.

After the first traverse of the flattening device 18 the forward end or the extruded shape will, of course, be flat and this end is attached to the reel 23 and the coiling device 19 set into operation whereby during extrusion of the second billet the prior extruded and flattened length will be coiled up in the manner desired.

During the second extrusion operation the flattening device 18 is returned to its initial position at the forward end of the track 15, and as will be understood, this device is again rendered operative at the end of such second extrusion operation. During the second, and all subsequent traverses of the flattening device 18 the coiling device 19 operates to maintain a predetermined tension on the strip so that the flattening operation may be more readily accomplished and with improved results.

The above cycle of operations may be carried out repetitiously until the reel 23 is filled to capacity, whereupon the strip may be severed at the reel, the coil removed, and the operation continued as above described.

If it becomes desirable to alter the width of the strip produced, it is merely necessary to interchange the die 11 with another having a die opening of diflerent length. It should also be noted that the die opening need not be circular, as illustrated, but may, for example, be corrugated or other shape.

Referring now to FIGURES 3-5 of the drawing the flattening device 18 comprises a carriage of rigid construction and having a plurality of flanged wheels 27 arranged to engage and be guided by the spaced members 16 of the track 15. The carriage proper comprises spaced vertical side plates 26 braced by members 28 are arranged to support a plurality of pairs of flattening rolls as will appear.

It will be observed in FIGURE 3 that the principal mechanism of the flattening device 18 comprises four spaced working stations consisting respectively of a spreading device 29, and three pairs of cooperating working rolls 30-32.

The spreading device 29 is illustrated in FIGURE 4 and is shown therein to comprise a lower supporting roll 33 which is of generally elliptical contour and is rotatably supported in the side plates 26 by an elongated shaft 34. Mounted in the side plates 26 above the supporting roll 33 and disposed to incline upwardly to a certain degree is a pair of opposed guiding blocks 35 and 36 which are provided with suitable bores or slots for slidably receiving carrier rods 37 and 38. The rods 37 and 38 mount at their outer ends spreader rolls 39 which depend downwardly from the rods toward the supporting roll 33. Connecting the rods 37 and 38 is a toggle device 40 which is operated by means of a vertically disposed hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 40 mounted on one'of the brace members 28 as shown. The arrangement, as will be understood, is such that energization of the cylinder 40 will effect simultaneous extending or retracting movement of the spreader rolls 39 through the action of the toggle device 40. In the intended operation of the spreading device the rolls 39 are initially moved to an extended position whereby the same may be readily received within the narrow opening or cleft in the initially extruded shape. As soon as the rolls 39 have been received between the opposed edges of the extruded shape the cylinder 40 is energized and caused to move downwardly to thereby move the rolls 39 into retracted position. Thereafter, as the extruded material passes through the spreading device 23 the side edges of the shape will be spread sufliciently so that the same will not tend to fold over in passing through the working station 30 positioned adjacent the device 29 and next following the same in the direction of movement of the strip.

Working station 30 comprises upper and lower working rolls 41 and 42, respectively, which are respectively of concave and convex contour as shown. In accordance with the teachings. of the invention the rolls 41 and 42 are so shaped as to subject the strip passing therebetween to a relatively severe reverse bend, such bend being desired in order to cause a permanent deformation in the strip from its originally generally circular shape to approximate flatness. It will be understood, of course, that a relatively severe deformation is required due to the fact that the interior surface of the extruded circular shape is somewhat shorter in peripheral dimension than is the exterior surface.

Also in accordance with the teachings of the invention the lower roll 42 is journaled directly in the side plates 26 while the upper roll 41 is journaled in blocks 43 which are adapted for vertical sliding movement with respect to the side plates 26. The arrangement is such that the roll 41 may be moved from a lower extreme position wherein the same is adapted to act cooperatively with lower roll 42 to engage and deform the extruded shape to an upper extreme position wherein the working station 30 is Wholly inoperative and the flattening device 18 may pass freely over the extruded length, as for example, in moving from end to the other of its traverse immediately subsequent to the completion of a flattening operation. A suitable fluid actuator 44 is provided in the illustrated embodiment of the invention for the purpose of effecting movement of the roll 41 to and from its operative and inoperative positions.

Working station 31 is similar in all material respects to the station 39, it being noted, however, that the upper and lower working rolls 45 and 46 thereof are somewhat differently contoured. Specifically, the rolls 45 and 46 are shaped so as to bend the outer edges of the strip downwardly to provide a relatively uniform flatness in the stripe And it will be noted that the rolls of the preceding station 30 are substantially narrower than those of the station 31, the reason for this residing in the fact that the extruded shape is not sufliciently flattened at the time of its passing through the first roll station 30 to permit entry of a wide roll, such as roll 45, within the opening provided by the spreading device 29. Roll 45, as roll 41, is vertically movable between operative and inoperative positions, and a suitable fluid actuator 47 is provided for eifecting such movement.

Following the strip-deforming working stations 30 and 31 in order of the direction of relative movement of the strip with respect to the flattening device 18 is another working station 32 comprising a pair of cooperating rolls 48 and 49 which are preferably cylindrical and which serve merely to impart a final smoothing and flattening operation to the strip and prepare the same for subsequent coiling on the reel 23. The upper roll 48 of the lastmentioned pair of rolls is also provided with vertically slidable journaling means and a fluid actuator 50 for effecting movement between operative and inoperative positions.

As before stated, flattening of the extruded shape into flat strip is carried out while the press 10 is idle and by causing the flattening device 18 to move along the track 15 toward the die. For effecting such movement of the device I have employed in the illustrated apparatus an electric motor 51 mounted at the sideof the roll carriage adapted to drive one or both pairs of wheels 27 through a gear reducer 52 and intermediate mechanism. As shown in FIGURE 3, the motor 51 is directly associated with the gear reducer 52 which in turn drives a plurality of gears 5359, alternate ones of which are connected to working rolls 33, 42, 46 and 49, and the end one of which is connected by means of chain drives to the forward pair of wheels 27. The arrangement, is of course, such that the rotation of the rolls is directly and correctly correlated to the speed of advance of the roll carriage along its traverse. There is thus no tendency for the strip to stretch or buckle during the flattening operation.

For operating the fluid actuators 40, 44, 47 and 50 I have provided a fluid source comprising a second electric motor 60 and pump 61 connected thereto. Suitable conduit and control apparatus, not shown is provided to connect the above-mentioned actuators with the fluid source, and preferably the controls are such as may be operated from a centralized control station 62 located on the front side of the flattening device. It is usually preferred that the plurality of actuators be provided with independent control means whereby for example, during initial threading of the extruded stock the rolls and spreading device may be moved into operative position in sequence.

The advantages of the invention should now be appar cut. I have illustrated a novel method of producing alu-' minum strip by an extrusion process wherein the width of the strip obtained may be substantially greater than the billet capacity of the extrusion apparatus. And in accomplishing this I do not depart from recognized extrusion practices which suggest that an extruded shape should be confined within the peripheral limits of the billet. My invention involves the principle that a desired product may be extruded in other than the desired form and thereafter bent or otherwise deformed as desired. And in this respect it should be understood that the teachings of the invention are not necessarily restricted to the production of flat strip or of a product of uniform thickness.

I claim:

1. In the method of producing a continuous wide flat strip by successively extruding a plurality of billets into a continuous form, the steps of extruding a billet in a shape other than flat but of uniform thickness, progressively flattening said shape subsequent to the extrusion of each billet and prior to the extrusion of the next subsequent billet while the shape is stationary, maintaining said shape under tension during said flattening step, and coiling previously flattened strip during each extrusion step.

2. The method of producing a continuous length of wide fiat strip from a plurality of billets which comprises the steps of extruding said billets one at a time into a continuous article having a tube-like section with a wall thickness substantially equal to the desired strip thickness, progressively deforming said tube-like article into a substantially flat strip subsequent to the extrusion of each billet into such tube-like form and before the extrusion of the next subsequent billet while said article is stationary, and maintaining said article under tension during said deforming step.

3. In the method of producing a continuous length of wide flat strip from a plurality of billets, the steps of extruding billets through a die one at a time into a continuous article having a substantially C-shaped cross section, flattening the C-shaped cross section of said article while the article is stationary starting from a point remote from said die and progressively traveling toward said die, and coiling the flattened strip.

4. In the method of producing a continuous length of wide flat strip from a plurality of billets, the steps comprising extruding billets through a die one at a time into a continuous article having a substantially C-shaped cross section, and flattening said G-shaped cross section while the article is stationary starting from a point remote from said die and progressively traveling toward said die.

5. In the method of producing a continuous length of wide fiat strip from a plurality of billets, the steps of extruding billets through a die one at a time into a continuous article having a substantially O-shaped cross section, flattening the C-shaped cross section of said article starting from a point remote from said die subsequent to the extrusion of a billet and progressively traveling toward said die before the extrusion of the next subsequent billet, while said article is stationary and coiling the flattened strip.

6. In the method of producing a continuous length of wide flat strip from a plurality of billets, the steps of extruding billets through a die one at a time into a continuous article having a tube-like cross section, and flattening said article starting from a point remote from said die, said flattening step taking place subsequent to the extrusion of one billet and before the extrusion of the next subsequent billet while said article is stationary.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 904,451 Richards Nov. 17, 1908 1,423,361 Rockwell July 18, 1922 2,133,874 Sparks Oct. 18, 1938 2,219,888 Duclos Oct. 29, 1940 2,313,702 Allen Mar. 9, 1943 2,393,702 Naegeli Jan. 29, 1946 2,458,686 Davie Jan. 11, 1949 2,681,734 Braeuninger June 22, 1954 2,692,421 Cozzo Oct. 26, 1954 2,716,805 Reed Sept. 6, 1955 2,720,310 Yack et a1 Oct. 11, 1955 2,827,944 Grossu Mar. 25, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 267,281 Great Britain Mar. 17, 1927 

